Most virtual reality hype has surrounded tools that create a visual experience, like the Oculus Rift goggles. Gadgets like this vest could provide an additional physical, tactile element to virtual reality.
The $150 KOR-FX feeds sound to the two transducers on the front of the vest. Regular sounds are translated into vibrations that are felt directly on the body. It’s the same thrill you get in a movie theater when the bass is so strong it shakes your seat, but it uses less power and is portable.
I strapped the vest on and tested it. The vibrations ranged from heart-racing to subtle, and are surprisingly effective when paired with audio from a good pair of headphones. Footage of a DJ Tiësto show imitates the experience from the bass at a live concert. Explosions and gunshots rock you in the first-person-shooter game “Counter-Strike: Source.”
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“All of the sudden I was engulfed in the genius, the amazing indescribable wrapping up of emotions masterfully put together,” said Afshar. “It opened all these vistas that I had never thought of.”
